A NEW £23 million facility for virus research has been officially opened at Glasgow University.

Professor Sir Mark Walport FRS, Chief Scientific Adviser to the Government, presided over the ceremony as the Sir Michael Stoker Building opened its doors.

The building houses cutting-edge facilities and state-of-the-art laboratories and supports world-leading scientific research by the UK’s largest group of virologists.

It is home to the Medical Research Council–University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research (CVR), and was funded by the University, MRC and a Wellcome-Wolfson Capital Award.

The mission of the CVR is to generate new knowledge and uCutnderstanding of viruses and viral diseases of humans and animals for the improvement of health and benefit of society.

Researchers work with colleagues in the University, Health Protection Scotland and NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, and are dedicated to the study of human and animal viral diseases.

The building, located at the University’s Garscube Campus, was constructed by architects Laing O’Rourke and takes its name from the first Chair of Virology at Glasgow University and one of the country’s most pre-eminent post-war scientists.

The official opening also saw five CVR staff members receive the Ebola Medal for Service in West Africa, the first campaign medal awarded by the UK Government for a humanitarian crisis response.

The Ebola Medal recognises the bravery and hard work of thousands of people who helped to tackle Ebola in West Africa. The CVR recipients all worked in Ebola virus diagnostic laboratories in Sierra Leone during the outbreak.

Professor Massimo Palmarini, Director of the MRC-University of Glasgow Centre for Virus Research, said: “The CVR is now fully operational in the magnificent new Sir Michael Stoker Building.

"The facilities we have here provide us with the very best environment in which to conduct our research and the building is a fitting tribute to the legacy of Sir Michael Stoker.

“Infectious diseases, many of which are viral in origin, continue to impose a major burden on healthcare resources and are responsible for the death of 15 million people each year. CVR scientists investigate human and animal viruses at all scales, from their genes and proteins to the paths they take through populations.”